Mullaperiyar Dam row: Karunanidhi slams Centre
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CHENNAI/KUMILY: An uneasy calm prevailed on the borders of Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam issue, as UPA key ally DMK
mounted a direct attack on the Centre, asking it to "at least now" take
a timely decision to resolve the escalating row between the two states.
With both states seeking to turn the heat on each other and mount pressure on the Centre, people from different villages in border areas of Tamil Nadu blocked vehicular traffic on the Cumbum-Mettu road to Kerala for the third day.
Tension in Kerala's border town of Kumily however eased but the area is still under tight security as agitators gathered on the Tamil Nadu side, protesting Kerala's demand for a new dam in place of the 116-year-old structure.
After remaining shut for the past two days, shops in the town opened but inter-state traffic continued to be blocked on both sides for the third consecutive day, police said.
In Tamil Nadu, DMK stepped up its pressure with party workers staging a day long fast, demanding that the Centre prevail upon Kerala to accept the Supreme Court verdict to raise the water level in the dam from 136 feet to 142 feet.
Taking potshots at the UPA government at the Centre, of which his party is a key constituent, DMK chief M Karunanidhi, said the Centre "known for taking belated decisions" should act timely on the Mullaperiyar issue at least now.
"The Centre, known for taking belated decisions on all issues, should at least now take a timely decision as any delay will lead to disastrous consequences," he told party workers who were on a day-long fast in Chennai.
He came down heavily on some people in Kerala whipping up a fear psychosis among its people that the dam might burst. Some politicians in Kerala with an eye on the coming bypolls to Kerala assembly are spreading falsehood that the dam was weak.
"Do not play with unity of the people. Do not get emotional. Preserve the unity and integrity of the nation," he told people of Kerala,which is unrelenting on its stand that a new dam be built in place of the 116-year-old reservoir.
DMK is also holding a human chain protest on Dec 14 in five districts that benefit from waters of the dam, located in Kerala's Idukki district, but controlled by Tamil Nadu under a 999 year lease.
With both states seeking to turn the heat on each other and mount pressure on the Centre, people from different villages in border areas of Tamil Nadu blocked vehicular traffic on the Cumbum-Mettu road to Kerala for the third day.
Tension in Kerala's border town of Kumily however eased but the area is still under tight security as agitators gathered on the Tamil Nadu side, protesting Kerala's demand for a new dam in place of the 116-year-old structure.
After remaining shut for the past two days, shops in the town opened but inter-state traffic continued to be blocked on both sides for the third consecutive day, police said.
In Tamil Nadu, DMK stepped up its pressure with party workers staging a day long fast, demanding that the Centre prevail upon Kerala to accept the Supreme Court verdict to raise the water level in the dam from 136 feet to 142 feet.
Taking potshots at the UPA government at the Centre, of which his party is a key constituent, DMK chief M Karunanidhi, said the Centre "known for taking belated decisions" should act timely on the Mullaperiyar issue at least now.
"The Centre, known for taking belated decisions on all issues, should at least now take a timely decision as any delay will lead to disastrous consequences," he told party workers who were on a day-long fast in Chennai.
He came down heavily on some people in Kerala whipping up a fear psychosis among its people that the dam might burst. Some politicians in Kerala with an eye on the coming bypolls to Kerala assembly are spreading falsehood that the dam was weak.
"Do not play with unity of the people. Do not get emotional. Preserve the unity and integrity of the nation," he told people of Kerala,which is unrelenting on its stand that a new dam be built in place of the 116-year-old reservoir.
DMK is also holding a human chain protest on Dec 14 in five districts that benefit from waters of the dam, located in Kerala's Idukki district, but controlled by Tamil Nadu under a 999 year lease.
The Central Government's inability to make an out of court agreement on Mullapperiyar issue points to the fact that Indian political system has lost its nationalistic character. Regional parties have divided the nation's mindset on regionalism which is very dangerous. Attack on Kerala people in TN is so tragic. What a pity!
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